How to switch my IP address to South Korea using a VPN

Popular sites and services are increasingly using geo-blocking to restrict access to their content. Usually, this takes the form of an IP address check, where you’re only allowed to use the service if your IP address comes from a specific country. So, if you want to access content and services in South Korea, you’re going to need a South Korean IP address. You can do this by connecting to a VPN.

Whenever you use a VPN, you’re given a new, region-specific IP address, based on your chosen server’s location. In this case, you would select a server in South Korea in order to gain a South Korean IP address, making it simple to bypass regional restrictions and use geo-blocked platforms from abroad. VPNs also encrypt your traffic, ensuring it can’t be read by any third-party observers and enhancing your online privacy.

In this article, we explain exactly how to use a VPN to gain a South Korean IP address, and we list the best providers for the job. We’ll cover each provider in detail later on, but if you only have time for a quick glance, here’s a quick summary.

What are the best VPNs for gaining a South Korean IP address?

1. NordVPN: Is the best VPN for getting an IP address for South Korea. Huge network of servers, including 10+ in South Korea. Zero logs and impeccable security. Exceptional speeds and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for South Korea.
2. Surfshark: Budget provider that offers an impressive array of security features, as well as decent speeds and strong unblocking ability. Connect as many devices as you like.
3. IPVanish: Fast and secure. Servers in Seoul. No connection limit. Preferred by Kodi users for its remote control-friendly dashboard. Offers the lowest month-by-month subscription.
4. ExpressVPN: A fast network of servers dotted around the globe, including locations in South Korea. Easy-to-use apps for all major platforms that are great for privacy and security.
5. CyberGhost: Top security, fast speeds, and no logs. Apps are easy to use and beginner-friendly. Extensive server network in 100+ countries, including 20+ in South Korea.
6. ProtonVPN: Packed with security features like 256-bit encryption and a no-logs policy. Reliable unblocking of South Korean services.
7. Private Internet Access: A privacy-first provider with decent speeds, intuitive apps, and a true no-logs policy. Reliable servers for gaining an IP address in South Korea.
8. PureVPN: Servers in Seoul for a South Korean IP. Incredible speeds for streaming and downloading. Protect 10 devices simultaneously.
9. PrivateVPN: Smaller network but great for privacy and live streaming Korean content. Exceptional speeds and unblocking abilities.

How to get a South Korea IP address using a VPN in 2025

With the right VPN, getting an IP address from South Korea is very straightforward. Below, we’ll walk you through it.

Here’s how to get a South Korean IP address in 5 simple steps:

1. Begin by signing up for one of the VPNs listed below (we recommend NordVPN).
2. Download and install the app. There will be several different versions, so be sure to get the relevant one for your device.
3. Connect to any of your VPN’s South Korean servers. This will change your IP address to the desired location.
4. Try visiting a geo-blocked South Korean site. Content should load immediately.
5. If you experience problems, try clearing your cache and cookies and then refreshing the page.

Note: If you’d like to watch a particular event live, we highly recommend running through the steps above before it actually begins. In doing so, you ensure that if anything goes wrong, you’ll have time to contact customer support and fix it without missing anything.

How we selected the top VPNs for a South Korean IP

With so many competing VPNs, deciding which is best for a particular task is often difficult. With this in mind, when finding the best VPNs for getting a South Korean IP address, we decided only to consider services with all of the characteristics below:

• Has at least one South Korean server, preferably more
• Provides high speeds and reliable connections
• Uses 256-bit encryption and offers various other security features
• Does not log any information that could identify you
• Offers apps for all of the most popular operating systems
• Has knowledgeable customer support available

This is just an overview, but you can find out more about how we test and rank the VPNs we recommend later in our methodology section.

The best VPN to get an IP address for South Korea: at a glance

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for getting a South Korean IP in 2025.

The best VPN to get a South Korean IP address

At Comparitech, we never recommend a VPN that we haven’t used and rigorously tested ourselves. The following reviews are based on our first-hand experiences, so let’s take a closer look at the providers that impressed us.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for a South Korean IP address:

1. NordVPN

Jan 2025

NordVPN is our number one choice VPN. It has one of the largest networks of any major VPN provider, with more than 7,000 servers spread across 100+ countries, including around a dozen in South Korea. This service offers high speeds and the ability to stream Korean TV from abroad. It allows up to ten connections at once, so you can browse safely at home and on the go.

NordVPN has a great reputation where performance is concerned, boasting a strong performance in our latest speed tests. That said, we wanted to see how reliable its South Korean servers were. Over the course of a day, this VPN averaged 137.56 Mbps, making it the quickest provider on this list. Not only that, but there was minimal variance based on the time of day we tested. In short, NordVPN is fast, consistent, and great for any task. Let’s see those results:

This service comes with a suite of advanced security features. There’s 256-bit encryption, an app-specific kill switch, and protection against port forwarding, IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. That’s not all: NordVPN includes ad-blocking, malware-scanning, dual VPN, and Tor over VPN functionality. It doesn’t log any information that could identify you, and you can pay with Bitcoin if you’d like an extra layer of anonymity. Live, chat-based support is available 24/7.

NordVPN has apps for Windows, Android, Linux, MacOS, and iOS devices. It can be manually installed on supported wireless routers.

BEST VPN FOR SOUTH KOREA:NordVPN is our top choice. It’s a secure, speedy VPN that makes getting a South Korean IP address easy. Keeps no logs and comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our full review of NordVPN.

---

2. Surfshark

Surfshark has over 3,200 speedy servers spread across South Korea and 100+ other countries. This means that it’s a strong choice whether you’re looking to watch KBS, SBS, or BBC channels. Best of all, while many other providers limit the number of connections you can have, Surfshark is happy for its users to secure every device they own simultaneously.

Surfshark is an affordable VPN with roughly a dozen servers in South Korea. After years of using this service, we’ve come to expect first-class performance, and thankfully, the Korean servers didn’t disappoint. Our experts recorded an average speed of 131.14 Mbps across three tests, with only around 6 Mbps of difference between the highest and lowest results. So what does this mean for you? Simply, you’re unlikely to notice any performance issues regardless of the time of day or how many people in your household are using the internet.

This VPN uses an app-specific kill switch, 256-bit encryption, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks to keep your activities hidden from snoopers. There’s also a toggleable NoBorders mode that lets you browse freely while traveling in countries like China. Surfshark accepts Bitcoin, Ripple, and Ethereum and doesn’t log any personally identifiable info. Live chat-based support staff are on hand 24/7, just in case.

Surfshark provides iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and MacOS apps. It can also be manually configured for use with select network routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is a low-cost provider with reliable Korean servers, great unblocking ability, and no connection limit. Still not convinced? There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

---

3. IPVanish

IPVanish has servers in South Korea and over 2,000 others across more than 60 countries. This service is fast enough to live stream HD video with no noticeable buffering, and best of all, it allows any number of simultaneous connections, so you’ll be able to protect all of your devices with a single account.

IPVanish has come a long way where performance is concerned and now sits close to the top of overall speed rankings. So, how reliable were its servers in South Korea? Extremely! We noted an average speed of 117.53 Mbps, which is more than enough for day-to-day tasks like watching live streams, downloading large files, or video chatting with people back home. The table below shows IPVanish’s speeds at varying times of day:

This VPN uses 256-bit encryption, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, and a kill switch (desktop apps only) to ensure you’re protected at all times. There’s also the option to block local connections and obfuscate OpenVPN traffic if you’d like a more advanced security setup. IPVanish keeps no logs whatsoever, meaning they can’t provide details of your activities under any circumstances. Live chat is available 24/7 should you need any assistance.

IPVanish has Windows, Android, Amazon Fire Stick/Fire TV, MacOS, and iOS apps. Manual configuration is required for use with Linux systems and select network routers.

BROWSE SAFELY ANYWHERE:IPVanish is a fast, log-free, highly secure VPN with multiple servers in South Korea. Its lack of a connection limit makes it ideal for users looking to protect lots of devices at once. IPVanish plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

---

4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN currently has more than 3,000 servers in over 100 different countries, including South Korea. This service is fast enough to stream live HD video without any noticeable buffering, and since it also boasts strong streaming ability, you can use it to watch Korean platforms like EBS TV and SBS from anywhere.

If you’re looking for a reliable service with speedy South Korean servers, ExpressVPN might just fit the bill. It might not be the fastest VPN out there, but it’s certainly competitive. For instance, our testing revealed average speeds of 97.07 Mbps on Korean servers. That’s enough to stream six 4K videos simultaneously or download a 1GB file in around a minute and a half. What’s even more impressive is that there was just 1.4 Mbps of variance across three tests! Check out the full results below:

This VPN uses 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch (in its desktop apps) to keep your activities private. Privacy-conscious users can sign up almost completely anonymously by paying with Bitcoin and using a disposable email address. ExpressVPN logs no personally identifiable information. Customer support is available 24/7 over live chat.

ExpressVPN apps are available for Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, and iOS. There’s also custom router firmware, making it easy to protect all of your devices at once.

FAST KOREAN SERVERS:ExpressVPN is a quick and reliable option for getting a South Korea IP address. It’s fast and secure, with excellent unblocking potential and a major focus on your privacy. It even includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of ExpressVPN.

---

5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost offers the most South Korean servers of any VPN in this list (24+) and has more than 10,000 in 100+ countries globally. It’s a very fast service, and apps enable you to view the current load of each server, making it easy to gain a low-latency connection no matter where you are in the world. Additionally, CyberGhost permits up to seven simultaneous connections, while most of its rivals allow around five.

CyberGhost is a beginner-friendly VPN that boasts streaming-optimized and general-purpose servers in Seoul. This provider is about in the middle of the pack where performance is concerned, though we do have to give it credit: there was minimal speed loss even when using servers in faraway countries. Overall, CyberGhost averaged 116.10 Mbps, which means you’ll be able to play games, watch TV shows, and torrent without any noticeable drop in performance. We’ve laid out the results of CyberGhost’s speed tests in the chart below:

This service is extremely user-friendly, and all of its security features are enabled by default. These include 256-bit encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, an automatic ad-blocker, a malware scanner, and a kill switch (which is available in all versions). Perhaps most importantly, CyberGhost doesn’t log any information that could be traced back to you. If you run into any problems, you can reach customer support 24/7 via live chat.

CyberGhost offers apps for MacOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, and Android. Select internet routers are also supported but require manual configuration.

POWERFUL VPN:CyberGhost is a fast, easy-to-use VPN offering reliable, affordable protection and access to several South Korean servers. It even comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our in-depth CyberGhost review.

---

6. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is a highly advanced VPN that is perfect for techy users in need of a Korean IP address. The VPN is based in Switzerland and was developed by the creators of ProtonMail. This gives the VPN an impeccable reputation. As you would expect, it has a solid no-logging policy that has been independently audited.

ProtonVPN reserves its fastest speeds (and the ability to specifically choose a Korean server) for users on the paid plan. So, is it worth upgrading? We’d say so; its speeds were among the highest we saw, averaging 103.79 Mbps over three tests. Now, the noon result was less than half the speed of the morning result, so there is definitely room for improvement. Still, ProtonVPN is quick enough to handle whatever you throw at it, from streaming KBS to playing online games.

Here are the full test results, side by side:

ProtonVPN is compatible with all major devices and comes with AES encryption, various protocols, obfuscation technology, split tunneling, multi-hop connections, self-owned Secure Core servers, and the option of using Tor over VPN. This makes the VPN reliable for preventing ISP and government snooping, it also makes it a strong option if you must travel to countries with high levels of surveillance and censorship.

ProtonVPN’s longer plans are a bit expensive, but if you only need a VPN for vacation, it is cheaper than most of our other recommendations, which is worth remembering. Our tests revealed that ProtonVPN works with numerous Korean streaming services, providing smooth access to platforms like TVer, Seezn, Kocowa, and Wavve. It also works with Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and many other international services.

Customer support is available 24/7 via live chat, and you can compare the VPN to any of our other recommendations using its 30-day money-back guarantee. Plus, this VPN is perfect for torrenting thanks to its split tunneling and port forwarding features.

HIGHLY SECURE:ProtonVPN is a reliable and trusted VPN with servers in 85+ countries, including Korea. It works to access Korean streaming services abroad or while at work within Korea. Strong AES encryption and a kill switch.

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review.

---

7. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a powerhouse in the VPN world, and it’s easy to see why. One of its major perks is the unlimited device limit, making it a fantastic option for families or anyone juggling multiple gadgets. For the streamers out there, PIA has you covered; it can access Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, KBS, and more, so you won’t miss out on your favorite content no matter where you are.

So we know that Private Internet Access can access popular streaming sites. The question is whether it’s consistent enough to rely on – after all, nobody wants to miss a crucial moment of a live stream due to speed fluctuations. Thankfully, this VPN’s Korean servers were nice and quick, with an average speed of 94.84 Mbps. It was fastest in the morning, but even at other times of day, it remained speedy enough for data-intensive tasks. Here are our findings:

Security-wise, PIA doesn’t skimp. It employs top-of-the-line 256-bit encryption and even throws in an ad blocker for good measure. With servers in 91 countries, including South Korea, it offers a robust network for bypassing geo-restrictions. The multi-hop servers add an extra layer of security, making it a solid choice for users who prioritize privacy.

Customer support is available 24/7 via live chat, so help is always just a click away. The setup is straightforward, and PIA offers apps for all major platforms, ensuring a seamless user experience. Plus, with a pricing model with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can give it a thorough test run without any financial risk.

ZERO-LOGS VPN:Private Internet Access offers steady speeds a wealth of security tools, and a no-logs policy. In other words, it’s perfect for streaming Korean TV without compromising on privacy. A 30-day money-back guarantee is included too.

Read our full Private Internet Access review.

---

8. PureVPN

Jan 2025

PureVPN is a highly practical and affordable option for anybody needing an IP address in South Korea. Its cost-effectiveness makes it accessible to a wide range of users, and the VPN is surprisingly feature-packed, considering its relatively low cost.

PureVPN is a reliable, easy to use service with solid performance and a fairly large network. It took second place in our latest industry-wide speed tests and did fairly well when we tested its Korean servers, too. Our experts recorded an average speed of 39.25 Mbps, which was slower than expected but still more than enough for any everyday task. After all, it only takes around a 15 Mbps connection to stream 4K video, so this should be plenty for most users. Let’s take a closer look at the full test results:

PureVPN has more than 6,000 servers spread across more than 65 countries, including servers in Korea. This gets you a local IP address to access popular streaming servers, internet banking, shopping, and Google search results in Korean. The VPN can be used to unblock services like Wavve and TVing on vacation – or any restricted network within Korea, such as at work or on campus.

PureVPN is fast, which makes it especially useful for activities such as streaming, gaming, torrenting, and video conferencing. Tests using the WireGuard protocol showed impressive download speeds reaching up to 400 Mbps, which is remarkable considering the service’s affordability.

Besides working to get a Korean IP address, you can use PureVPN to watch Japanese platforms and services in 65 different countries. It works to stream Netflix US, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Japanese services like TVer, U-NEXT, AbemaTV, and dTV.

In terms of security, PureVPN provides robust protection with AES encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak prevention, and a strict policy against logging user data. These features prevent local networks, public wifi hotspots, ISPs, and government agencies from tracking your activities online. They also protect you against hackers when using public wifi.

While customer support may have slower response times, the overall reliability of PureVPN means this shouldn’t be a deal breaker. You can test the VPN to make sure you’re happy by making the most of its 31-day money-back guarantee.

LOW COST:PureVPN is a low-cost VPN that allows access to Korean services on vacation. It has servers in over 65 countries, including Korea to watch Kokowa, Wavve, Oksusu, TVer, and many others.

Find out more in our PureVPN review.

---

9. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN might not have as many servers as some of its competitors (200 in total throughout 63 countries, including South Korea), but it does offer blazing-fast speeds. It’s also extremely effective at bypassing geo-restriction measures and would be a strong choice for anyone looking to use platforms like EBS TV or TV Chosun abroad. It can be used on up to 10 devices at once.

PrivateVPN has never been the quickest provider on the market, but it does offer a level of consistency that few of its rivals can match. It also owns its network outright, which is better for privacy and optimization. When we tested its South Korean server, we recorded an average speed of 48.04 Mbps, with less than 6 Mbps of variance. That’s pretty decent, especially as we’ve previously seen PrivateVPN struggle to limit speed loss across long distances. Let’s take a look at the complete test results:

256-bit encryption is enabled by default, but PrivateVPN includes a kill switch (Windows only) and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. This service has a strict no-logs policy and allows users to pay with Bitcoin, so there’s no risk of your activities being traced back to you. PrivateVPN’s live chat support service is available 22 hours per day (excluding 1-3 PM PST), and with your permission, the staff can remotely install or configure the software for you.

PrivateVPN apps can be downloaded for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. It works on Linux and select wireless routers with manual installation.

RELIABLE HIGH-SPEED BROWSING:PrivateVPN provides fast, consistent connections to its South Korean server and doesn’t keep any logs whatsoever. There’s even a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose by trying it.

Here’s our full review of PrivateVPN.

Methodology: Finding the best VPNs for getting a Korean IP address

Technically, any VPN with a single South Korean server can get you a South Korean IP address. However, every provider is different under the hood. Some may not offer the high level of protection you need to browse safely, while others might be too slow for you to browse at all! That’s where we come in; our experts have put together a comprehensive testing process to make sure that only the best of the best make it through. Here are our main areas of focus:

South Korean speeds

Measuring a VPN’s performance isn’t as simple as running a speed test and calling it a day. After all, results can vary based on all kinds of factors, including how far away your chosen server is, how many other people are using it, and what connection protocol you’re using. For that reason, we set out to create a testing process that would not only reduce the impact of these variables but also provide a realistic expectation of the speeds you’ll actually get.

For starters, we limited our base connection speed to 246 Mbps. This is around the median broadband speed in the US, so we’re not skewing numbers by using an ultra-fast connection. Then, we ran three tests per provider (one in the morning, one at noon, one in the evening) to measure the impact that fluctuating user numbers have. Finally, we averaged these results, as shown in the table below:

Next, we assigned scores relative to each VPN’s performance (with the fastest provider earning top marks) and normalized them. This way, any slight differences can be easily seen on a chart like this one:

NordVPN took first place, with Surfshark coming in a close second. There was a slight dropoff afterward, though; IPVanish and CyberGhost were around 15 Mbps slower than our top two contenders. At the bottom of the table, we have PureVPN. It had a strong showing in the morning but was unable to match this later in the day, leading to a particularly low average speed.

Server availability

Naturally, you won’t be able to get a South Korean IP address if your VPN doesn’t have servers there. However, this is only the beginning of our research. We also consider how many other server locations each VPN offers and, if the data is available, how many servers are in each country. That’s because, generally, a higher server count means that you’re less likely to be stuck with an overloaded server (though every provider optimizes their hardware differently, so this isn’t a hard and fast rule).

Our experts then assigned points based on how well our top VPNs fared in the above tests. These were weighted and normalized, giving us a final score out of 10 for each. Let’s see how well they all performed:

NordVPN and ProtonVPN tied for first place, each scoring 9.8 points. This is largely due to having more servers than most of their rivals, as well as more locations overall. At the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s PrivateVPN; this provider owns and operates its entire network but has just 200 servers worldwide, with one in South Korea.

Streaming ability

If you’re looking for an IP address from a specific country, it’s probably because you’re interested in accessing geo-blocked sites. Most commonly, these are streaming platforms, which is why we decided to test each of our top VPNs against a series of Korean TV channels. We also checked how reliable they were at accessing foreign streaming apps, looked into whether they could block ads automatically, and checked to see if they offered a Smart DNS service. Here’s what we discovered:

Once again, we assigned points and then weighted and normalized the scores to get a ranking out of 10. Let’s see how that looks:

NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN all scored an impressive 9.2 points. This is partly because they all stop ads and trackers automatically and partly because they work with tons of streaming sites, including KBS and Netflix. ProtonVPN, meanwhile, had a more difficult time. It was generally decent for streaming but did struggle with some platforms and occasionally needed multiple attempts to access others.

Security and privacy

While your main goal might be streaming Korean TV abroad, it’s important to remember that VPNs are primarily designed to keep your online activities private. Here at Comparitech, we take security very seriously, which is why we evaluate VPNs on more than a dozen factors. Not only that, we dig deep into their audit histories, privacy records, and more. You’ll find a full list below:

After awarding points and normalizing the scores, we put them into a chart for easier comparison. You’ll notice that this was a particularly close category, with fierce competition for the top spot.

We have another tie for first place; NordVPN and Surfshark both scored 9.5 points, losing out due to slightly lower authentication standards and being based in the US, respectively. Meanwhile, ProtonVPN and Private Internet Access shared second place, with ExpressVPN bringing up the rear. PrivateVPN was in last place, though it still had an impressive score of 8.6 – it’s just that it lacked some of the more advanced features of its rivals.

Ease of use

These days, most consumer VPNs are fairly easy to use, even if you’re a complete beginner. However, in our years of testing, we ‘ve noticed that some services are more straightforward than others. They might have different servers for tasks like torrenting, for instance, or allow you to connect as many devices as you like. Some even have tools that let you secure traffic from your TV without having to install anything! Here’s a complete list of what we looked out for when evaluating VPNs on ease of use:

NordVPN put in another strong showing here, though Private Internet Access managed to match it with a score of 9.6. IPVanish took second place, with ExpressVPN coming in third. At the other end of the scale, we have PrivateVPN. This service scored 8.6 points, meaning it’s very easy to use. However, its score would have been higher if it had been a little bit more consistent when it came to accessing region-locked sites.

Gaining an IP address from South Korea with a free VPN

It’s tempting to try and use a free VPN to gain an IP address for South Korea, and you’ll find plenty of providers promising you a quality service for free. Unfortunately, most of them are not worth your time; many of them won’t work, and those that do can be less secure than not using a VPN at all.

First, free VPNs are unlikely to have South Korean servers and are often the first to be blacklisted by popular services like Netflix, which makes free VPNs a poor choice for streaming South Korean content abroad. Also, they’ll usually have fewer servers than paid services but more users, meaning you can expect pages to load extremely slowly and video to buffer for long periods of time, if they load at all.

More concerningly, many free VPNs don’t offer any level of encryption, and they leak personal information over DNS. Some include malware, while others store tracking cookies on your device that allow them to keep track of which websites you visit and how often. This data is recorded over long periods of time, and once enough has been collected, it’s sold to advertisers, most commonly without your knowledge.

To be as safe as possible, we recommend using a reputable VPN that puts user privacy first. But if you’re set on getting a South Korean IP address for free, here are a few tips on doing so safely.

How to get a South Korean IP address with a free VPN:

• Opt for a VPN that offers a free trial. These range from 1 – 7 days, which could be enough if you just want to be protected for a short time.
• Make the most of the money-back guarantees of the providers we’ve listed here. They range from 30 to 45 days, so they should be enough to cover you for a vacation or short work trip. Unlike free trials, you do have to pay upfront but can rest assured that if you’re not 100% happy with the service, you can claim a full refund. Check out our step-by-step guide to claiming a full refund from NordVPN to see how simple it is.
• Another option is to choose a reputable VPN with a basic free level, such as Windscribe or ProtonVPN. These VPNs have limited server locations on their free tiers, so you probably won’t be able to use them to gain a South Korean IP. However, they are reputable, secure providers, so if you just want to stay secure online for free, they are worth considering.

Gaining a South Korean IP address with a VPN: FAQs

See also: Best VPNs for South Korea